nanotech legislation information forwarded from my email - our opinions needed

From: Kevin Freels (megaquark@hotmail.com)
Date: Wed Jun 18 2003 - 09:43:09 MDT

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    I'm not sure of the list rules regarding this, but I received this email today and thought it might be interesting to many of you. It is regarding a bill that is currently being written about nanotech. I treied to list the subject line in such a way that those of you not interested in this could delete it.

    Dear Friends and Colleagues,

    Tomorrow morning, Thursday, June 19, 2003, the Senate Commerce, Science
    and Transportation Committee will complete writing S. 189, a major
    nanotechnology bill.

    This is your opportunity to provide input on whether molecular
    manufacturing -- the advanced molecular nanotechnology expected to bring the
    most important results -- is specifically mentioned in this bill.

    The House of Representatives has already passed its own nanotech bill,
    H.R. 766, which adopted amendments introduced by Congressman Brad Sherman,
    who spoke at this year's Foresight Vision Weekend. One of the adopted
    amendments, titled "Sherman's Standards and Guidelines Amendment", requires
    the National Academy of Sciences to study molecular manufacturing,
    including self-replicating nanoscale machines.

    Now the Senate Committee is considering whether to include this
    amendment into the Senate bill.

    ****** YOUR VOICE HAS INFLUENCE ******

    Your opinion could have influence on the outcome -- so please call or
    fax your Senators before Thursday morning to share your views.

    Below is a list of the Senators by state who are on the Senate Commerce
    Committee. You are encouraged to call the Senator from your state first, and
    then all others you have time to contact. We have included the contact
    name, fax, phone, and email.

    At this late date, phone and fax -- NOT EMAIL -- are the best means of
    contact.

    ****** WHEN PHONING OR FAXING A SENATE OFFICE ******

    * Ask for the specific legislative aide who is listed below
    * Identify yourself by name
    * If you live in the Senator's state, say so
    * Identify yourself as a member or supporter of Foresight Institute

    ****** IF PHONING, SAY: ******

    * I am calling about S. 189, the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research
    and Development

    * I urge Senator____ to sponsor language similar to the Sherman
    Amendments to H.R. 766, the National Nanotechnology R&D Act.

    * Specifically: Sherman's Standards & Guidelines Amendments - points
    1-5

    ****** IF FAXING, WRITE: ******

    Attn: (*insert name of specific staffer listed below)
    Dear Senator _______

    I urge you to sponsor language similar to the Sherman Amendments to H.R.
    766, the National Nanotechnology R&D Act. I would like you to include an
    amendment requesting that the National Academy of Sciences assess the
    need for standards, guidelines and strategies for assuring
    the development of safe nanotechnology, specifically regarding
    self-replicating nanoscale molecular machines, distribution of
    molecular manufacturing development, encryption, and the
    development of defensive technologies employing molecular nanotechnology.

    Signed____________

    ****** SUMMARY OF SHERMAN'S STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES AMENDMENT ******

    Requires that within a period of time, the National Academy of Sciences
    assess the need for standards, guidelines and strategies for assuring
    the development of safe nanotechnology, including those applicable to the
    following:

    1. the possible regulation of self-replicating nanoscale machines or
    devices
    2. the release of such machines or devices in natural environments
    3. distribution of molecular manufacturing development
    4. encryption
    5. the development of defensive technologies
    6. the use of nanotechnology as human brain extenders

    For a complete copy of the Sherman amendments, contact
    science.sherman@mail.house.gov.

    ****** SENATOR CONTACT INFORMATION ******

    ALASKA (Sen. Ted Stevens - R)
    ASK FOR: Matt Paxton
    Science and Transportation Legislative Aid
    Phone 202.224.3004
    Fax 202. 224-2354
    Matt_Paxton@Stevens.senate.gov

    ARIZONA (Committee Chair John McCain - R)
    ASK FOR: Jennifer Wilson
    Legislative Correspondent
    Phone: 202.224.2235
    Fax 202.228.2862
    Email Jennifer_Wilson@Mccain.senate.gov

    CALIFORNIA (Sen. Barbara Boxer - D)
    ASK FOR: Sandra Schubert
    Science and Agriculture Legislative Aide
    Phone (202) 224-3553
    Fax(415) 956-6701
    Email. Sandra_Schuert@Boxer.senate.gov

    FLORIDA (Sen. Bill Nelson - D)
    ASK FOR: Cindy Lodge
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone (202) 224-5274
    FAX: (202) 228-2183
    Email: Cindy_Lodge@Nelson.senate.gov

    HAWAII (Sen. Daniel K. Inouye - D)
    ASK FOR: Marie Blanco
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-3934
    Fax: (202) 224-6747
    Email: Marie_Blanco@Inouye.senate.gov

    ILLINOIS (Sen. Peter G. Fitzgerald - R)
    ASK FOR: Robin Eolwell
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-2854
    Fax: (202) 228-1372
    Email: Robin_Eolwell@Ffitzgerald.senate.gov

    KANSAS (Sen. Sam Brownback - R)
    ASK FOR: Maggie Nelson
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-6521
    Fax: (202) 228-1265
    Email: Maggie_Nelson@Brownback.senate.gov

    LOUISIANA (Sen. John B. Breaux - D)
    ASK FOR: Andy Vermilye
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-4623
    Fax: (202) 228-2577
    Email: Andy_Vermilye@Breaux.senate.gov

    MAINE (Sen. Olympia Snowe - R)
    ASK FOR: Emily Jarvis
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-5344
    Fax: (202) 224-1946
    Email: Emily_Jarvis@Snowe.senate.gov

    MASSACHUSETTS (Sen. John F. Kerry - D)
    ASK FOR: Barry LaSala
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-2742
    Fax: (202) 224-8525
    Email: Barry_LaSala@Kerry.senate.gov

    MISSISSIPPI (Sen. Trent Lott - R)
    ASK FOR: Jim Sartucci
    Science and Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-6253
    Fax: (202) 224-2262
    Email: Jim_Sartucci@Lott.senate.gov

    MONTANA (Sen. Conrad Burns - R)
    ASK FOR: Mike Rawson
    Science and Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-2644
    Fax: (202) 224-8594
    Email: Mike_Rawson@Burns.senate.gov

    NEW HAMPSHIRE (Sen. John Sununu - R)
    ASK FOR: Mike O'Rielly
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-2841
    Fax: (202) 228-4131
    Email: Mike_ORielly@Sununu.senate.gov

    NEW JERSEY (Sen. Frank Lautenberg - D)
    ASK FOR: Cindy Bethell
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-3224
    Fax: (202) 228-4054
    Email: Cindy_Bethell@Lautenberg.senate.gov

    NEVADA (Sen. John Ensign - R)
    ASK FOR: Michael Sullivan
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-6244
    Fax: (202) 228-2193
    Email: Michael_Sullivan@Ensign.senate.gov

    NORTH DAKOTA (Sen. Byron L. Dorgan - D)
    ASK FOR: Emmett O'Keefe
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-2551
    Fax: (202) 224-1193
    Email: Emmett_Okeefe@Dorgan.senate.gov

    OREGON (Sen. Ron Wyden - D)
    ASK FOR: David Sohn
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-5244
    Fax: (202) 224-2717
    Email. David_Sohn@Wyden.senate.gov

    OREGON Sen. Gordon Smith - R)
    ASK FOR: Wally Hsueh
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-3753
    Fax: (202) 228-3997
    Email: Wally_Hsueh@Smith.senate.gov

    SOUTH CAROLINA (Sen. Ernest F. Hollings, D)
    ASK FOR: Jean Toll Eisen
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-6121
    Fax: (202) 224-4293
    Email: Jean_Eisen@Hollings.senate.gov

    TEXAS (Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson -R)
    ASK FOR: Celeste May
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-5922
    Fax: (202) 224-0776
    Email: Celeste_May@Hutchinson.senate.gov

    VIRGINIA (Sen. George Allen - R)
    ASK FOR: Frank Cavaliere
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-4024
    Fax: (202) 224-5432
    Email: Frank_Cavaliere@Allen.senate.gov

    WASHINGTON (Sen. Maria Cantwell - D)
    ASK FOR: Ethan Ackerman
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-3441
    Fax: (202) 228-0514
    Email: Ethan_Ackerman@Cantwell.senate.gov

    WEST VIRGINIA (Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV - D)
    ASK FOR: James Reid
    Science and Technology Legislative Aide
    Phone: (202) 224-6472
    Fax: (202) 224-7665
    Email: James_Reid@Rockefeller.senate.gov

    ****** THANK YOU ******

    Thank you in advance for contacting your Senator. No matter which
    potential uses of molecular nanotechnology most interest you -- medical,
    environmental, space, etc. -- you understand that molecular
    manufacturing will change our lives greatly. By contacting your Senator
    now and influencing the outcome of this bill, we can maximize the
    technology's benefits and minimize possible downsides.

    Many of you are aware of the Foresight Guidelines on Molecular
    Nanotechnology. The language in this amendment was influenced by these
    Guidelines. For a refresher on the goals and language of the Foresight
    Guidelines, see: http://gmail.foresight.org/cp/26823CS9D3AO3FE0842S35UJN4S/

    Thank you again for your help and time.

    Christine Peterson
    President
    Foresight Institute, Preparing for nanotechnology
    foresight@foresight.org
    http://gmail.foresight.org/cp/26824CS9D3AO3FE0842S35UJN4S/

    -----------------------------------------------------------
    Foresight Institute, PO Box 61058, Palo Alto, CA 94306 USA
    tel +1 650 917 1122 fax +1 650 917 1123

    To avoid receiving nanotechnology-related email from Foresight, notify foresight@foresight.org



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